United States President Donald Trump has said a US Supreme Court decision to revive parts of his travel ban order as a “clear victory for our national security”.

The US Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to Trump by narrowing the scope of lower court rulings that blocked his travel ban on people from six Muslim-majority countries and agreeing to hear his appeals in the cases.

“As President, I cannot allow people into our country who want to do us harm. I want people who can love the United States and all of its citizens, and who will be hardworking and productive,” Trump said in an official statement released by the White House. “My number one responsibility as Commander in Chief is to keep the American people safe. Today’s ruling allows me to use an important tool for protecting our Nation’s homeland. I am also particularly gratified that the Supreme Court’s decision was 9-0,” Trump added.

The court said it would hear arguments on the legality of one of Trump’s signature policies in his first months as president in the court’s next term, which starts in October. The justices granted parts of his administration’s emergency request to put the March 6 executive order into effect immediately while the legal battle continues. The court said that the travel ban is in effect “with respect to foreign nationals who lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States.” The court also said it would allow a 120-day ban on all refugees entering the United States to go into effect on the same grounds.